The region of Lasithi sits on the eastern side of Crete. It’s got a mix of stunning scenery and a history that’s honestly hard to match.

People here have watched all sorts of changes shape their coastline and communities. Some of these developments have made life better, but others—well, not so much.

Lately, local crews have turned their attention to environmental and administrative headaches that pop up along the shore. They’re hauling away broken-down ships and trying to upgrade public services—efforts that show how much folks care about both the land and the people living on it.

Key Takeaways

• Teams have started clearing out partially sunken ships from Lasithi’s coast.
• Officials want to keep things safe and protect the environment.
• They’re also working on making shipping routes run smoother.

Sitia: Removal Process Begins for Partially Sunken Vessel – Officially Declared a Wreck

Local authorities have kicked off the removal of a partially submerged ship just off Sitia. Since the vessel’s in rough shape, they’ve officially called it a wreck.

Key points:

• You can still spot the ship’s bow poking above the water—it’s leaning way forward.
• Port officials are running the show, making sure everything goes according to plan.
• They’ve set up safety measures to keep the marine environment out of harm’s way.

This is just the beginning of a bigger push to clear the area and make navigation safer for everyone. Updates will probably roll in as the work moves along—so if you’re curious, might be worth keeping an eye out.

For more details, check out the Sitia semi-submerged ship removal request.

The freight vessel MN KOSTAS, flying a Sierra Leone flag, ran aground near Sitia back in July. Now it’s classified as a wreck and sits partially underwater, a bit of a headache for anyone navigating nearby.

Authorities didn’t waste much time—they kicked off removal procedures to deal with the risk. The ship’s got a vertical lean, starboard down, with its bow jutting out above the water.

The local port authorities jumped in, launching an investigation and calling together a special committee to handle the mess. They officially labeled the vessel a wreck and told the managing company to get it out of there.

Here’s what happened after the grounding:

• They took out all the fuel and lubricants.
• The crew unloaded the cargo—just gypsum soil, nothing toxic.
• Workers sealed up vents and other openings to keep leaks at bay.

Tugboats, salvage ships, floating cranes, and extra freighters all played a part in these tasks. Crews put a floating barrier around the ship, just in case anything nasty tried to escape.

They kept extra anti-pollution gear on standby, both in the water nearby and at Sitia port. If something had gone wrong, they’d have jumped in fast.

Thankfully, no one found any signs of marine pollution during or after the whole ordeal.

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